SHAH ALAM, Oct 16 — Three Johor towns had Malaysia’s highest Air Pollutant Index (API) readings at 6pm today: Pasir Gudang (199), Larkin (198), and Pengerang (181), all in the unhealthy category.
According to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS) portal, Selangor’s six monitoring stations also logged unhealthy API readings, namely, Johan Setia (178), Klang (174), Petaling Jaya (169), Shah Alam (165), Banting (158), and Kuala Selangor (131).
In the Klang Valley area, all three monitoring stations also recorded unhealthy air quality — Putrajaya (166), Batu Muda (161), and Cheras (159).
Of Malaysia’s 68 air quality monitoring stations, 27 had unhealthy API readings and 40 had moderate scores.
Sarawak’s Kapit was the only town with a good API reading (47).
An API reading of zero to 50 indicates good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 is hazardous.
Meanwhile, Selangor state executive councillor for public health and the environment Jamaliah Jamaluddin today said people in vulnerable groups should limit outdoor activity, and advised parents to keep an eye on their children’s health.
Earlier, Bernama reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will chair a meeting on haze-time strategies on Monday. Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the meeting will cover Malaysia’s offer to help Indonesia put out its wildfires.
